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Bringing Down The House (2003)

Bringing Down The House
"Just because the talking-dog bit didn't work for Sandler, doesn't mean we can't try it."

Starring:

Starring

Released By:

Buena Vista

Released In:

2003

Rated:

PG-13

Reviewed By:

Adam Mast

Grade:

D

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I'm a big fan of Steve Martin. Usually, he's a pure joy to watch. I've also become a fan of Queen Latifah--particularly after her scene-stealing work in the recent Chicago. Sadly, the two prove to be an awkward pairing in this dismal comedy. Which is most certainly the fault of this processed and warmed-over material. At times, Bringing Down the House was just about unwatchable.

In this tired farce, Martin plays a tight ass tax attorney who begins a courtship with a woman online. Martin decides to meet the woman in person, and is stunned when Latifah shows up on his doorstep. Before long, Latifah is living in Martin's house and turning his life upside down. Naturally, Martin doesn't like Latifah at first, but as the movie progresses, he begins to learn from her, as does his family, friends, clients, and neighbors.

As I stated before, Martin is a pure joy to watch. He doesn't merely speak his lines, but delivers them with every inch of his body. This is, of course, a Steve Martin trademark. Queen Latifah is also amusing despite being forced to play much of her role as a stereotype. As a result, her charm and candor are never as convincing as it might have been given a stronger script. Eugene Levy provides many of the funniest moments in the film as Martin's friend--a fellow attorney who develops a crush on Latifah. While most of Levy's lines are all too obvious, he©ös a comic-veteran who knows how to get a laugh.

Bringing Down the House does have funny moments, but more often than not, the jokes miss the mark. Watching Martin dress up as a gangsta might have seemed funny on paper--but compared to Warren Beatty's similar turn in Bulworth it was pretty lame. Betty White's racial slurs were equally unfunny and offensive. Broad comedy can be pretty tricky to get across, but if you want to see it done properly, go see Old School. There's a movie that knows how to sell it's offensive characters. It's a howl. Bringing Down the House is more of a whimper.

:: zBoneman.com Reader Comments ::

Think Fast

Think Fast

If you had to pick between Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy as far as who has totally ruined their credibility and former respect which would you choose? 5,4,3,2,1 and the winner is?

Adam

Adam

EDDIE MURPHY!!!!!

You Make The Call

You Make The Call

Which film is truly the worst (I'm choosing these films because each of them weren't total bombs, they each had a moments, so I ask you - which was the worst film Bringing Down the House and Daddy Day Care.

The Boneman

The Boneman

I'm going to have to field this one because I don't think Adam saw Daddy Day Care - this it a tough question because, you're right both films are equally matched, and quite honestly I'm going to have to call it a draw

Adam

Adam

The Boneman is correct. I have not seen Daddy Day Care, and I thank him from the bottom of my heart for taking a bullet for me. Actually, it's probably not fair to say that. Pehaps the movie has good qualities. I imagine at some point I'll watch it. The reason I pick Eddie Murphy over Steve Martin is because of their entire body of work. I'm pretty confident that I can pick out more lousy Murphy pictures. This, by no means, suggests that I'm not a Murphy fan. He's done outstanding work (most recently in the Shrek films) but the last ten years have not been kind.

So let's have a little fun with this. I'll do two lists; one of weak Murphy films and one of weak Martin films. I'll only list one's that I've seen (that will explain why you wont notice Adventures of Pluto Nash). Again, this is just my opinion. No doubt, there will be choices I've made that people are sure to disagree with, most notably on the Martin list.

EDDIE MURPHY STEVE MARTIN

Best Defense Mixed Nuts

The Golden Child Out of Towners

Harlem Nights Housesitter

Beverly Hills Cop 3 Sgt. Bilko

Vampire in Brooklyn Bringing Down the House

Dr. Doolittle Cheaper by the Dozen

Holy Man

Dr. Doolittle 2

Showtime

I Spy

So there are plenty of others that are questionable. I'm a huge fan of both Eddie Murphy and Steve Martin, but I didn't like any of these movies. So this is how I came down to Eddie Murphy as my choice. His list is bigger.

To his credit, Murphy has done some great. My favorites are Beverly Hills Cop, Trading Places, 48 Hours, Shrek, and Coming to America.

My favorite Martin pictures are Parenthood, The Jerk, Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, Little Shop of Horrors, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Paty

Paty

Peter Sanderson is an older, uptight lawyer who has had marital problems and finds himself lonely. Charlene Morton is a convicted felon for armed robbery, oh and she is black. Charlene and Peter have been conversing online in a legal chat room. Both have been dishonest too each other about who they truly are. Charlene has claimed to be white, blonde and a lawyer. She has even sent Peter a photo but failed to mention she is in the background being arrested and not the pretty blonde that is prominent in the photo. Peter has claimed to be younger then he is and he claimed to be a criminal lawyer instead of a tax attorney. So Peter and Charlene set up a blind date so they can finally meet, but to Peter's dismay Charlene is completely different then she claimed to be. She has just been released from prison for a crime she claims she did not commit and she wants Peter's help to clear her name and record. That is why she set up the meeting in the first place. But once Peter finds out she is nothing like he thought she was he wants nothing to do with her anymore. So Charlene decides to invade his life in every aspect she can, from throwing parties at his house to trying to shock his uptight white neighbors. So Peter finally agrees to take her case to get her to leave him alone and all of a sudden finds her helping him too,. From help with his kids that he distanced himself from, to possibly winning his wife back. And Charlene has someone find a new interest in her, Peter's friend Howie Rosenthal whom Charlene calls all kinds of freaky. So all chaos is about to break out as Peter finds himself in deeper then he could have ever imagined.

This movie makes fun of every type of stereotype there is and is quite funny in doing so. By showing how ridiculous it is to be racist and how some people make fools of them self in doing so the movie ends up being quite a treat. The movie can go to far in trying to shock you into seeing the absurdity of all the stereotypes being flung at you constantly and could maybe used a little decorum but it is still and outright hilarity fest at times as you find yourself laughing at the quirkiness of the film. Steve Martin does a great job, as he seemed to be funny for the first time in years as he plays the straight-laced lawyer who finds his life all of a sudden turned upside down. But it is Queen Latifah who steals the show which she has been doing on a regular basis, as she is quite funny and a very good actor. She seems to be the only normal person in the whole ensemble that is plain out crazy. Eugene Levy also adds a lot of laughs as he is so far left field of the normal behavior you cannot help but laugh at his character. The movie does not fail to do what it set out to do and that is to make you laugh. It does have times where it may have gone too far at times but is still well worth the viewing.

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